Many moons ago when vaping first became recognised to drop your nicotine and give up cigarettes with a viable replacement, it was all about cigalikes.
These were little devices that looked like cigarettes and were the first generation of electronic vape kits that produced enough vapour and satisfaction to help you stop smoking.
Then came the evolution of technology as the industry started designing stylish heavily featured mods, reliable pod kits and more recently single-use disposable vapes.
Now that we have come full circle with the announced ban on disposables, could cigalikes like the V2 Cigs starter kit make a comeback? We review why this device has always been popular with our customers and could become mainstream once again.
Prediction: Disposables Out – Cigalikes Re-Emerge
Well, it was inevitable – disposable vapes had their moment in the limelight with millions sold in the UK over the past few years. But frankly, there was too much emphasis on the negative side of vaping with disposables which was not what the industry was created for.
When you have counterfeit vapes being sold by stores regularly, flavours like bubble gum and batteries that are incorrectly disposed of by the millions each week, disposable vapes don’t stand a chance long-term.
Now with a look into the future, we could be returning to a product that’s always been there, quietly pleasing our customers for many years.
Cigalikes have always had their place in the market because they’re reliable, discreet, easy to use, rechargeable, a good money saver and look eerily close to cigarettes without containing combustible tobacco or creating tar in your lungs.
The V2 Cigs starter kit is an affordable and versatile vape kit which doesn’t break the bank and offers a variety of flavours and ways to vape. You can go down the prefilled route with 14 different screw-in cartridge flavours to add on top of the battery.
Alternatively, you can add your e-liquids inside the Ex-Blank tank, which can be refilled multiple times before recycling. It means you don’t need to throw away the battery, which can be recharged and should last at least six months.
Key Features and Specifications
- Compatible with prefilled and refillable cartridges
- The slim and cylindrical shape of a cigarette
- 14 different prefilled flavours to choose from
- Four prefilled nicotine strength options – 18mg for heavy smokers, 12mg, 6mg and 0% nicotine
Appearance and Build Quality Overview
The V2 Cigs starter kit looks and feels like a cigarette, without the obvious inclusion of dangerous ingredients such as tobacco.
Smokers expect when they switch from one nicotine product to another via vaping after putting down cigarettes to continue with a similar habit. One that provides the same nicotine satisfaction and has a familiarity with it to gradually reduce the levels of addiction.
With excellent build quality and a premium feel, the starter kit is easy to hold and vape. It’s a slim device and very lightweight for a compact mouth-to-lung vape, with a very thin mouthpiece.
In terms of packaging, it even looks like cigarettes with a simple compact box design to ensure a smooth transition away from smoking, as soon as the V2 Cigs starter kit is delivered to your door – for a very affordable price of under £20 for the kit, with an automatic or manual battery.
The battery itself isn’t on the large size at 250mAh (roughly 200 puffs before needing a recharge) but should last the majority of the day.
Its design and build quality are minimalistic for a straightforward vaping experience.
How to Use the V2 Cigs Starter Kit:Simple Setup Guide
- The device will be activated by inhaling on the mouthpiece if you purchased the automatic battery or by pressing the singular button on the starter kit
- To add the cartridge, simply take out of the multipack (packaged as five but multiples of 5, 20, 40, 80 and 100 sold for better value) and screw clockwise on the battery
That’s all there is to it when operating the V2 Cigs Starter Kit. It’s a very simple design with no features to operate or settings to change! Just add the flavoured cartridge or fill up an Ex-Blank with your e-liquid and away you go!
What are the Advantages of this Cigalike?
- It’s an effective alternative to smoking cigarettes with a nicotine vape replacement that looks very similar
- Less complicated way to drop nicotine levels than some more intricate e-cigarettes
- Lots of prefilled flavours from traditional tobacco mixtures to sweeter flavours, or alternative empty ex-blanks opens up a world of possibilities for e-liquids
- Discreet and compact design with a good quality build
- Great value alternative to cigarettes offering big savings, especially when you buy the prefilled multipack cartridges
- Traditional mouth-to-lung draw
Are There Any Disadvantages with The V2 Cigs Starter Kit?
- The battery has a lower capacity than more recently created vape kits so if you vape frequently, you may need to charge it multiple times during the day
- Great for beginners but more experienced may look for something a little more expansive in terms of power or variation of inhalation styles
Verdict
Cigalikes kicked off the vaping surge in popularity as a replacement for smoking cigarettes and have continued to offer a modest alternative for an affordable price.
While limited in features, the V2 Cigs Starter Kit is likely to resurface on an even bigger scale following the 2025 ban on disposable vapes in the UK.
Because it’s very easy to operate, offers different e-liquid options and is available at a good price, it provides a simple yet effective means to quit smoking or continue along the path of dropping nicotine gradually after disposables are no longer available.
It means you can keep using the same battery, replacing it every few months, saving money in the process and replacing the empty or prefilled cartridges as required. You can stock up on your favourite flavours or simply switch when necessary while maintaining minimum fuss on the go.